Mallinella tricuspida, Dankittipakul & Jocqué & Singtripop, 2012

Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Jocqué, Rudy & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2012, Systematics and biogeography of the spider genus Mallinella Strand, 1906, with descriptions of new species and new genera from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Zodariidae) 3369, Zootaxa 3369 (1), pp. 1-327 : 187-190

Mallinella tricuspida sp. nov.

( Figs 836–837 , 844, 846, 848–849 , 859 , 866–873 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, MALAYSIA, Pahang State: Fraser’s Hill, Maxwell Trail (03°42'59.1"N, 101°44'18.9"E), 1,350 m, evergreen hill forest, 12–16 May 2004, leg. P.J. Schwendinger ( MHNG, MAL –04/01) . Paratypes: 2♀, same data as holotype ( MHNG) ; 1♂, 2♀, Genting (Highland?), July 1979, leg. F. & J. Murphy ( FJMC, coll. 15043) ; 2♂, 1♀, 26 November 1990, leg. F. & J. Murphy ( FJMC, coll. 19359) .

Diagnosis. Males of M. tricuspida sp. nov. are recognized by the rostrated TA carrying three processes and by a rather broad embolus ( Fig. 866 ). Females are easily recognized by a short, digitiform tubercle situated on the upper part of the spermathecae visible in anterior view ( Fig. 871 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun referring to the TA which carries three processes.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 7.88; prosoma 4.60 long, 3.21 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.22, PME 0.22, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.26, PME–PLE 0.42; MOQ: 0.64 long, 0.54 anterior width, 0.52 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 19.10 (4.58, 6.00, 4.80, 3.72), II 15.84 (4.00, 4.98, 3.98, 2.88), III 15.94 (4.18, 4.80, 4.28, 2.66), IV 22.02 (5.32, 6.48, 6.88, 3.32).

Coloration ( Figs 836 , 844, 846 ). Carapace dark brown. Sternum orange-brown. Chelicerae brown. Legs yellowish brown, except for coxae and patellae yellowish orange. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia, mottled with numerous minute pale spots; cardiac region pale. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming pale reniform patches; third and fourth pairs represented by two oblique pale patches, and a small round spot in between; fifth pair by transverse chevron.

Palp ( Figs 866–869 ). Retrolateral margin of palpal tibia triangular, distinctly elevated. RTA digitiform, margins parallel in ventral view, apex bluntly pointed. TA rostrated; apico-prolateral process slender, apex sharply pointed, directed mesad; apico-prolateral fold beak-shaped; meso-prolateral fold triangular, directed mesad. Axis of embolic base in transverse position, with shallow anterior median incision; membranous area broad, triangular,

situated anteriorly. Embolus broad, bifurcated, branching subterminally; mesal ramus strongly modified: broad semi-transparent flange situated posterior to smaller, triangular flange and digitiform extremity.

Female (paratype). Total length 7.98; prosoma 4.36 long, 3.42 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.22, PME 0.22, PLE 0.22, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.40; MOQ: 0.60 long, 0.52 anterior width, 0.50 posterior width. Leg measurements: I 17.80 (4.26, 5.58, 4.46, 3.46), II 14.76 (3.72, 4.64, 3.70, 2.68), III 14.85 (3.90, 4.46, 3.98, 2.48), IV 20.50 (4.96, 6.02, 6.40, 3.00).

Coloration ( Fig. 837 ). Carapace reddish brown. Sternum orange-brown. Chelicerae yellowish brown. Legs yellowish, except for coxae and patellae pale yellowish. Dorsum of opisthosoma sepia, mottled with numerous minute pale spots. Dorsal pattern: first and second pairs fused, forming pale reniform patches; third and fourth pairs represented by two oblique pale patches, and a small round spot in between; fifth pair by transverse chevron.

Genitalia ( Figs 859 , 870–873 ). Epigynal plate trapezoidal, longer than wide, anterior margin wider than posterior one. Spermathecae divided into two lobes, clearly visible in anterior view: upper lobe with digitiform tubercle; lower lobe subspherical in dorsal view.

Natural history. Mallinella tricuspida sp. nov. inhabits evergreen forests at high altitude (approximately 1,350 m asl).

Distribution. Malay Peninsula.

Figures

FIGURES 836–843. 836. Mallinella spiralis sp. nov., holotype. 837. M. tricuspida sp. nov., paratype. 838. M. robusta sp. nov., holotype. 839. M. denticulata sp. nov., paratype. 840. M. birostrata sp. nov., holotype. 841. M. birostrata sp. nov., paratype. 842. M. rolini sp. nov., holotype. 843. M. angustissima sp. nov., holotype. 836–843. Habitus, dorsal.

FIGURES 844–849. 844–846, 848. Mallinella tricuspida sp. nov., holotype. 849. M. tricuspida sp. nov., paratype. 847. M. angustissima sp. nov., holotype. 844. Habitus, ventral. 845. Carapace, dorsal. 846. Sternum. 847. Femora II & III, dorsal. 848–849. PVS.

FIGURES 856–865. 856. Mallinella angustissima sp. nov., paratype. 857. M. birostrata sp. nov., paratype. 858. M. rolini sp. nov., paratype. 859. M. tricuspida sp. nov., paratype. 860. M. acroscopica sp. nov., paratype. 861. M. robusta sp. nov., holotype. 862. M. amblyrhyncha sp. nov., paratype. 863. M. scharffi sp. nov., holotype. 864. M. microleuca sp. nov., holotype. 685. M. denticulata sp. nov., paratype. 856–865. Epigyne.

FIGURES 866–873. 866–869. Mallinella tricuspida sp. nov., holotype. 870–873. M. tricuspida sp. nov., paratype. 866. Male palp, ventral. 867. TA, ventral. 868. Ditto, prolateral. 869. Ditto, retrolateral. 870. Internal genitalia, dorsal. 871. Right spermatheca, anterior. 872. Ditto, lateral. 873. Ditto, posterior.